Council moves to protect social housing stock in Perth and Kinross
Last updated | 01/02/2012
Perth & Kinross Council has moved to protect its housing
stock by approving a 'pressured area' designation for a period of
up to 10 years.
This designation suspends the ‘Right To Buy’
for all Council tenants who entered their tenancy on or after 30th
September 2002 or who have transferred property on or after this
date.
There is huge pressure on social housing in Perth and Kinross,
and the introduction of pressured area status will ensure that
the situation does not get any worse. It is just one of many tools
and initiatives being used by the Council to increase the amount of
affordable housing in Perth and Kinross.
A consultation on the proposal was held late last year and the
results were reported to a meeting of the Housing and Health
Committee on Wednesday 1st February.
A total of 2,878 letters were sent out to tenants who would be
affected by a pressured area designation. The Committee will be
told that 56% of responders agreed with the proposal, 8% neither
agreed nor disagreed, and 36% disagreed.
Independent organisations who were consulted, such as local
housing associations and registered social landlords, were 100% in
favour of a pressured area designation.
The Committee agreed that the entire area of Perth and
Kinross should be designated as a pressured area with
immediate effect from 1st February 2012.
Housing and Health Convener, Councillor Peter Barrett,
explained: ȁC;The suspension of Right To Buy through Pressured
Area Status will help us preserve the scarce supply of affordable
housing to rent in Perth and Kinross.
ȁC;There is far greater demand for social-rented and other
forms of affordable housing than there is supply throughout the
Perth & Kinross area. There are thousands of people in Perth
and Kinross who are in housing need, and that is why this move is
important.
"The Council is working very hard to increase the amount of
affordable housing available in Perth and Kinross but that job is
made very difficult when social housing stock is being
sold.
ȁC;I would like to thank all of our tenants who took part
in the consultation - their views are very important to us. The
results show that the majority fully understand the reasons for
this course of action and support our aims."
